Mountain View, Calif. — August 10, 2020 — The El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors approved nearly $7.7 million in funding to support local health initiatives for fiscal year 2021 through its Community Benefit Program. This year’s 57 grants include school districts, nonprofit organizations, safety-net clinics and community service agencies that address the unmet health needs of individuals who live, work, or go to school in the district*. Grantees are providing critical services, which are even more relevant and needed now during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the most vulnerable members of the community.
"This year’s grantees are at the frontline providing services during this pandemic as unemployment, mental health needs, housing and food insecurity are peaking," said Gary Kalbach, chair of the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors. "The programs have adapted how they deliver their services to ensure that needs are continuing to be addressed. The District Board is honored to support them by reinvesting a significant portion of the property taxes collected to help fund their valued and much needed work."
The El Camino Healthcare District Community Benefit Program works collaboratively with local organizations to create healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthy communities through funding programs that address the following needs:
- Healthcare access and delivery
- Chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension
- Behavioral health
- Oral health
- Falls prevention
- Domestic violence survivor services
"The District Board's dedication to improving the health and well-being of our community is evident by their ongoing commitment to investing in local organizations," said Dan Woods, chief executive officer of El Camino Health. "With the pandemic, new health needs and challenges have emerged for many of our neighbors. The Board has recognized this and supported the community's needs in a variety of ways over the past few months, with the largest contribution going to Community Benefit grantees providing direct critical services."
In addition to Community Benefit grant funding, the El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors recently approved $2.4 million in funding to make COVID-19 testing available to all community members who live, work or go to school within the district.
*The District's cities include most of Mountain View, Los Altos and Los Altos Hills; a large portion of Sunnyvale, and small sections of Cupertino, Santa Clara and Palo Alto.
The El Camino Hospital District was established by voter approval in 1956 in accordance with California Local Hospital District Law. The purpose of the District is to establish, maintain and operate or provide assistance in the operation of health facilities and other health care services provider, groups and organizations that are necessary for the maintenance of good physical and mental health in the communities served by the District. The District, now known as El Camino Healthcare District, encompasses most of Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills; a large portion of Sunnyvale, and small sections of Cupertino, Santa Clara, and Palo Alto. The publicly elected El Camino Healthcare District Board of Directors approves tax dollar expenditures, including expenditures for the award winning Community Benefit program. Community Benefit funds are granted each year to local nonprofits, schools and government programs that provide critical health services to the underserved. All District Board meetings are publically noticed, open to the public, and available for viewing on the District website.